The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-10-21

1t will be noted by Mr.. Wicker's letter
that he believed, on Aug. 4th, that the
173 cent rate on fifth class freight, Chica
go to Mankato, was "fair, reasonable anG
defensible," while Waseca, only 20 miles
east, enjoyed 124 cent rate, or tariff
over 40 per cent. less than that granted
to Mankato. If the rate of liz cent
was "fair, reasonable and defensible, >
to Mankato, by what rule of matbemat
les or reasoning, asks the transportation
committee of the Union, could Vases
with justice to the shippers of Other
points, be given a 40 per cent. reduction
from this tariff?
The gentlemen representing the I'm.
ion on the transportation committee
considered this answer on the part Of
the Northwestern company final, and
steps were Immediately directed in
other channels. The M. & st. L. folks
were consulted and finally complaint
was brought before the Interstate com.
mission to ascertain whether or not the
rates maintained into Mankato as COM
pared with other points were "fair,
| reasonable and defensible." At the
hearing which took place last month in
st. Paul, all the roads entering this city
were represented and ably so. Both
sides were presented in detail, and
while the commission has not rendered
its decision in the matter, it is firmly
believed by those in position to form
a very good guess" that the prayer Of
the petitioners, that is the people, will be
sustained in their demand for the same
rate per ton per mile as that now in
force from Chicago to Waseca. This is
all the committee asked for, it is all
they claim to-day. and they are desir.
GUS that other points should be granted
the same rights.
Now, the question as to which road ID
entitled to the credit for first accedinp
to the demands of the shippers of Man
kato as set forth in the agreement
signed by about ninety of our business
men and heavy shippers, is what ID
stirring up the elephant. Mr.. Merrill,
it should be said in this connection, re-
signed several weeks ago from the trans.
portation committee, and Mr.. L. Patter.
son was selected to supply his place
This statement is sandwitched in 80 that
there may be no misunderstanding OF
misrepresentation. The committee is
sued card Tuesday, which appeared
in last evenings FREE Press urging the
business men to stand by the st. Louis
road in fulfllment of its promise
They wish to reIterate that request
and claim that if the shippers
will stand up to their agreement
the st. Louis people will certainly fulfil
their part of the contract. The commit.
tee says that it does not consider the
action of the other roads in giving that
which was not asked for or even desired
that is, a fiat St. Paul rate,-from the
fact that it is in violation of the very
principles for which they contend. The
permdnency of tariff reductions must rest
upon its equality, and not fayoritism.
It was this favoritism shown Waseca and
WaterviIle which aroused the indignant
protest of the business men at other
points, and the committee feels that it is
unjust to grant Mankato fayors when
other points perhaps just as worthy are
forced to pay royalty.
We have thus stated as nearly as pos
sible the views entertained by the trans
portatlon committee that the public
may be put in possession Of matters and
things which have not heretofore been
made clear, so far as their efforts may
bear upon the question Of freights. That
the other roads have strong adherents
cannot be doubted, and the FREE Press
would not take one iota of credit from
one and transfer it to another. Agent